Monrovia – President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has dedicated 10-megawatts Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO) Power Plant at the compound of the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) on Bushrod Island outside Monrovia.
The project, valued at US$27 million was funded by the Japanese Government through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
According to an Executive Mansion release, the Liberian leader on Tuesday, September 13, 2016 performed the dedication ceremony of a 10-Megawatts Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO) Power Plant and switched on the Lights in the Snow Hill Community in Gardnerville.
President Sirleaf told jubilant Snow Hill Community dwellers that: “We drove here today to tell you that we are delivering on our promises we made.”
President Sirleaf said the initiative was in fulfillment of her government’s expressed commitment to the people of Liberia and said although the government cannot do everything it was her administration’s commitment to ensure that critical projects like energy are well implemented for the benefit of the citizenry.
President Sirleaf among other things commended the Japanese government and people for the laudable initiative and noted that the partnership between the two countries will forever remain strong and vibrant.
At the same time, President Sirleaf disclosed that in December 2016, the Mount Coffee Hydro plant will come online with a capacity to become operational.
”I am pleased to see some of the communities including Snow Hill, Kesselly Boulevard, and its environs being connected to electricity. This will improve the living condition of the people”, she pointed out
President Sirleaf commended the management of LEC and JICA for the project and encouraged community members to get connected to enhance productivity.
The newly commissioned power plant brings to 38 the total megawatts being operated by LEC.
In her welcome remarks, Madam Florence Jlopeh, Snow Hill Community Chairlady thanked President Sirleaf and her government for living up to the promise to realize a dream – adding, “We will forever remain grateful to you Madam President”.
For his part, His Excellency Mr. Kaoru Yoshimura, Japan’s Ambassador to Liberia with residence in Accra, Ghana said the rehabilitation of the power system as well as many other projects currently being undertaken is a clear demonstration of Japan’s commitment to realize a “Quality Africa” as echoed by Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe at the just ended Tokyo International Conference for African Development (TICAD), held in Nairobi, Kenya.
In separate remarks, LEC Board Chair Ian Yap and LEC Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Joseph T. Maya said the Management of the Liberia Electricity Cooperation is prepared to continue to work in maintaining and operating the newly dedicated 10-megawatts HFO power plant to provide reliable and dependable electricity to the people of Liberia.
The ceremony was attended by senior Liberian government officials, officials of the Japanese government, and the LEC family and other community members among others.